China smiled again. “You know him well.”

She removed her arm from Valkyrie’s, and tapped the edge of her wrist. A tattoo glowed briefly, and the wall ahead of them turned transparent, revealing the city of Roarhaven below. “So what do you think of the place?” China asked. “Has it changed much since you’ve been away?”

Valkyrie nodded to their left. “The Cathedral is new.”

“Yes,” said China. “An impressive, if foreboding, structure, is it not? But it’s important to let the people have their faith. It rewards them. Keeps them happy.”

“Keeps them obedient?”

“Oh, Valkyrie … when did you become so cynical? But the Dark Cathedral is only one of our new additions.”

“I visited Corrival Academy.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?”

Valkyrie nodded. “That’s the kind of school I could have done with, growing up.”

“Which is exactly why it’s there,” China said. “Before, our children went to mortal schools and learned what they could about magic from a variety of sometimes unsuitable sources. But the Academy will give the next generation all the advantages they could possibly need. Teaching everyone the same rules, the same values …”

“Get them thinking the same way.”

An eyebrow arched. “You are cynical.”

“And so many students,” Valkyrie said.

“Yes. From all over the world. The best and brightest, all under one roof.”

“The children of the most powerful sorcerers, from every single Sanctuary on the planet … It’s some achievement. And hey, at least you know that it’ll keep their parents in line, right? No one’s going to want to go to war with Roarhaven when you have their kids under lock and key.”

China looked at her. “You make it sound like they’re prisoners.”

“Do I?”

China pointed straight ahead. “There we have the Fangs. Have you visited? Three square kilometres where the vampires have taken up residence. People told me it was a mistake to let them live among us, but do you know how many vampire attacks there have been in the last five years? Not a one. It’s been yet another great success – testament to what can be achieved when different people, different species, work together.”

“You sound like you’re angling for my vote,” said Valkyrie.

China laughed. “I’m just proud of what we’ve accomplished here, and I don’t want to see it threatened by a few angry young sorcerers. I’ve got Commander Hoc investigating the attack personally. He won’t be long finding those responsible.”

“That’s good of you,” said Valkyrie. “I doubt Skulduggery’s going to want to abandon his own investigation just yet, though.”

“Oh, absolutely. The advantage the City Guard have, however, is that they possess all the resources they could ever want – and they never go into a situation without back-up.”

“It does sound nice.”

“There’s always a spot open for you, should you decide to give it a go …”

“Without Skulduggery?”